DD is insisting on being called "Cherry"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never like my name but was super annoyed by the way my parents spelled it- I always had to spell it, pronounce it, etc... so one day in high school- I changed the spelling to the more traditional way. I just started writing it and it quickly stuck. I never asked permission and it took a few years for my parents to realize I was the one who changed it (not all these people spelling it wrong like they had already done for most of my life). It made things easier.

In hindsight- I should have gone by a different name

How is it spelled on things like your passport and drivers license?

[Anonymous]

Cherry might get her into Ivy League. Sharon not so much.

[Anonymous]

OP, I feel bad for you. I am not sure what to say to help. I am a middle school teacher and I had a student that went by “sheep.” She identified as a sheep and wanted to be called a sheep. I am not going to lie, I thought it was a joke. The kids all told me that she went by sheep the year before. Again, thought it was a joke. I had to message the parents “hello, I wanted to confirm the name of Susie and her preferred name in class.” Their response was… “Susie is no longer here, but we heard Sheep has your class this year and they are so excited!” 😬

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cherry might get her into Ivy League. Sharon not so much.

Ha. It did once!

[Anonymous]

Sharon peaked in 1949. Cherry is actually an improvement for her, but even if you hadn’t boomered her, it wouldn’t be worth the fight. Prioritize the relationship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow, so many people have replied!

A lot of people were suggesting she go by her middle name. I suggested this to her as well, but she said that her middle name (Eleanor) is also an old lady name. I think that's just unreasonable. I knew plenty of young Eleanors, and besides, she could just go by Ellie! I also talked to her about the sexual connotations of "Cherry", but she said I was being "gross" and just walked out the door

Honestly, I think she just wants to pick and choose her name and that's not how names work!

This has got to be a troll. Even if we believe someone might name their child Sharon Eleanor, they'd at least realize their mistake by the time the drugs wore off at the hospital.

No one would actually expect a child to go by either of those names.

What on earth is wrong with Eleanor/ Ellie??? I mean Sharon, yeah. But Eleanor/Ellie is grouped with Penelope/Alice/ Caroline/ etc in terms of old lady names that are classic and relatively popular at the moment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to (1) recognize you don’t get to control what she has her friends call her and (2) tell her you’ll support her choice of a new nick name and (3) tell her honestly that lots of folks will think of her virginity if she goes by Cherry. How about Cherie or Sherry or Cher?

Also all Boomer names.

And..no body will be thinking of virginity. That is ALSO a Boomer thing.

Signed,
A BOOMER

Yes, they will. I don’t know if the kids will, but her teachers will.

- a millennial

[Anonymous]

Cherry is adorable. It makes her feel empowered, special, unique. Support her.

[Anonymous]

I think Cherry is adorable and you should just let her be who she wants to be. That said, you could suggest that she go by Essy (which are her initials S.E., but let her spell it in a cute way--Essy or Essie). If he hates that idea, don't fight her on it. Let her keep what she determined is right for her.

[Anonymous]

My middle name is Sharon! (I'm a child of the mid 70's). I used to work with someone named Cherry. She said it was a family name that was passed down. I always thought it was pretty and it suited her well.

[Anonymous]

Cherry pie by warrant...can't figure out to link it

Maybe a cherry colored hair dye with the new name.

So cute. It's ok

[Anonymous]

Persuade her it’s much cooler to go British/Aussie and go by Shazz or Shazzah!

[Anonymous]

Sharon is a “hip” name?

[Anonymous]

Sorry for you, op. What a tacky name to choose. I’d be fine with setting aside her given name for now, but hate the alternative. I would probably resort to calling her “daughter” but try not to call her anything!

[Anonymous]

I don't know.

I'm 46, and my parents chose a name that was old-fashioned, but pretty and uncommon at the time.

Then it exploded in popularity through the late 90s and early 2000s, when it topped lists for girls in the US for years. It's still in the top 30 today.

So my name is going to be dated relatively soon anyway, and I feel that it "reads young" to a lot of people now.

Sharon could happen!